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Non-Calvinist theologians?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by bjonson, Jan 10, 2006.

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  1. bjonson

    bjonson New Member

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    Most people are NOT Arminian in evangelicalism today, in my humble opinion, so let's not assume labels.

    Can we please focus on the opening post? There are plenty of other forums to debate the issue.
     
  2. Pipedude

    Pipedude Active Member

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  3. Scott J

    Scott J Active Member
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    I am not sure that "most" people in evangelicalism today have a deep enough theology to rightly discern whether they are one or the other. I'm not trying to be mean but evangelicals often seem to be pretty shallow today.

    I would probably disagree with your conclusion as well. I think most evangelicals are default arminians having been taught that man's decision is primary in salvation.
     
  4. IveyLeaguer

    IveyLeaguer New Member

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    I won't hijack the thread, but I must respond.

    Therein lies the problem with Calvinism. It seeks a SYSTEM for God's handiwork to fit into so it is more understandble to the ways of the fallen human mind. The thing is, 90% or something like that fits quite nicely. The rest is hammered in through forced intellectualization.

    [​IMG] This one really amuses me. No doubt that most people have not studied out the issue, but the notion that a regenerate Christian who is not a 5 pt. Calvinist must, by definition, be Arminian is ridiculous. [A point, BTW, which I don't care to debate - I've already been round and round with Pastor Larry (who is one of my favorite posters, as are you) on this point, only to end up right back where we started.]


    As to the OP, there are some excellent non-Calvinist theologians but most of the ones I know of are not Arminian.
     
  5. Scott J

    Scott J Active Member
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  6. Scott J

    Scott J Active Member
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    Therein lies the problem with Calvinism. It seeks a SYSTEM for God's handiwork to fit into so it is more understandble to the ways of the fallen human mind. The thing is, 90% or something like that fits quite nicely. The rest is hammered in through forced intellectualization.</font>[/QUOTE] I don't "hammer" anything having previously stated that some of Calvin's explanations were unsatisfactory.

    As I said, I believe TULIP best accommodates what scripture says... not all points with equal ease but I know of none that cannot be dealt with through comparison with the overall context of scripture.

    [​IMG] This one really amuses me. No doubt that most people have not studied out the issue, but the notion that a regenerate Christian who is not a 5 pt. Calvinist must, by definition, be Arminian is ridiculous. [A point, BTW, which I don't care to debate - I've already been round and round with Pastor Larry (who is one of my favorite posters, as are you) on this point, only to end up right back where we started.]</font>[/QUOTE] OK... and thanks.
     
  7. NateT

    NateT Member

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    Brian, that is very likely. However, I wasn't persuaded/disuaded by anything said on the board. I was probably persuaded by the Calvinistic theologians I was reading [​IMG]

    William Lane Craig might be considered non-Calvinistic and/or J.P. Moreland. I don't know, I haven't read thm. I know they're "philosophers" and not technically "theologians" but one friend who leans more to the arminian side is greatly influenced by these two.
     
  8. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    It's a fair question, Scott. And I am not going to give a quick and dirty response. I have copied off, from that website, the five points of each and will give a response to each of the five points for each side, probably tomorrow. I have started the response, but I don't have time to do it all today.

    God bless.
     
  9. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Moody was definitely not Calvinistic, though I've never heard that he believed he could lose your salvation. R. A. Torrey (who I believe someone has already mentioned), on the other hand, was a close associate of Moody's and definitely not a Calvinist and definitely a theologian, though more in the popular mode than the professional mode.

    I, too, feel to be simplistic the suggestion on this thread that one must be either Calvinist or Arminian or he hasn't studied the issues. It is entirely possible to come out somewhere in the middle after studying all the verses, reading the theologians and discussing it in the college or seminary dorm--or the Baptist Board. :D ;)
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. bjonson

    bjonson New Member

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    Hi Scott,

    Thank you for reminding me of an error. I was confusing Arminias with Pelagius. I do think most evangelicals are Arminian in their basic views today...

    I think "semi-Pelagian" works.
     
  11. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Charles Finney is one Arminian who wrote a systematic theology. There have been others--Jacob Arminius, for example! :D

    Henry Theissen was a very solid evangelical theologian (not "shallow"--quit with that already, okay, Scott J?) who stood somewhere in the middle. His Lectures in Systematic Theology has been a standard textbook for many years. I would recommend it to anyone as a starting place for studying systematic theology.

    Others who are non-Calvinist on the modern scene (though these may have been mentioned) include Charles Ryrie, Zane Hodges and Leon Morris. [​IMG]
     
  12. drfuss

    drfuss New Member

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    IMHO, there is a problem with definitions in the above posts. Apparently, some Calvinists define anyone who is not a Calvinist as an Arminian regardless of what the belief is on this issue. I do not consider myself a Calvinist and I do not believe a Christian can lose their salvation. I believe a Christian can make a decision to stop trusting Christ alone as savior and by this decision forfits his salvation. Works and performance have nothing to do with it. Too many times the term 'losing your salvation' is interpreted as something that happened that your are not aware. I am eternally secure as long as I continue to trust Christ as my Savior.
    I think most non-calvinist, evangelistic demoninations believe as I do. Many Calvinists think Christians in these demoninations do not know if they are saved or not, which of course is false. These denominations usually do not consider themselves Arminian, but somewhere in between.
     
  13. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Runs in my mind Miley was Armenian as well.
     
  14. DeadMan

    DeadMan New Member

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    I've not been around here for very long but it has become apparent to me that, regardless of the question, if you mention Calvin, Calvinism, etc. you're gonna get lots of opinions from both sides!
     
  15. Ron Johnson

    Ron Johnson New Member

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    http://www.biblicist.org/bible/main.shtml Here is a good web for those that are neither Calvinist nor Arminian. I am a BIBLICIST. Most Calvinists consider you an Arminian if you do not believe in all 5 points. This is unfortunate.I have a real problem with particular Atonement.
     
  16. Ron Johnson

    Ron Johnson New Member

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    The best Arminian theo of this 21st century is Jack Cottrell(Cambelite).20th---Robert Shank.
     
  17. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Nope, but he was Arminian! Sorry, exscentric, I couldn't resist. [​IMG]
     
  18. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    I'm with you, Ron.
     
  19. genesis12

    genesis12 Member

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    I'm a non-Calvinist theologian. ;)
     
  20. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Sure you could have resisted, but you'd rather let that old nature get the best of you and - and - and .... [​IMG]

    Well, I deserved that [​IMG]

    I still think he was one of them guys no matter if I cain't spell!
     
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